TIFF 2012 - select observations about the guest list

Last year we had Brange and George. This year Johnny Depp and Will Smith. That’s a win when you can secure any two of the big 5 and both Depp and Smith were on the TIFF expected guest list released this morning.

A few quick notes which, by no means, covers everything, but we’ll add to it later as we approach the festival:

-Paul Thomas Anderson is on the list for The Master and, after the reaction from last week’s Chicago screening - click here for Sarah’s review - there’s no way it’s not contending for an Oscar, but neither Philip Seymour Hoffman or Joaquin Phoenix are on the list. The last time Phoenix was at TIFF he had a meltdown during my interview with him. Maybe that’s the point.

-Eva Mendes is confirmed to attend. She and Ryan Gosling will be at TIFF to screen The Place Beyond The Pines. It’ll be their first carpet. Mark that one down.

-Mark Ruffalo.

-Gwyneth and all her friends. The list is so long I’m including just a few names: Jude Law, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Garrett Hedlund, Naomi Watts... and an ex-friend in Winona Ryder. It’s been almost 15 years. It’s time to reconcile. Especially since G has so much great advice to offer now.

-MY OBSESSION: Aaron Taylor-Johnson is officially on the list for Anna Karenina. The Taylor-Johnsons never go anywhere without each other. I think I might pass out. If I see them I think I might pass out.

Anyway, here - I’m just copying and pasting the entire list from the TIFF press release below. Like I said, it’s stacked: